They would go forward only if they could affiliate with the GBOD. They desired to work within the structure of the church to bring about renewal in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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They were to remain non-political and non adversarial in their efforts for renewal. They desired to be characterized as “lighting candles” rather than “cursing darkness.”

In early 1978, there was a second meeting in Chapel Hill with invitations being extended to potential candidates for board members. Those present were:

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Richard (Dick) Burns of Johnstown, PA,

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Sharon Cummings, Rocky Mount, NC,

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Minnazelle Danley, Colorado Springs, CO,

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James Fitzhugh, Billings, MT,

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George Hobbs, Louisville, KY,

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Perry Rankin, Hastings, NE, Wendy Rhodehamel, Cuyler, NY,

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Robert Stamps, Tulsa, OK,

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Robert Tuttle, Pasadena, CA,

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Tommy Tyson, Chapel Hill, NC,

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William P. Wilson, Durham, NC,

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Ross Whetstone, June Cain, and Marie Livingston Roy, Nashville, TN.

A Board was appointed, a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and officers were elected. A Board of Directors and an Advisory Council with representation from each of the five Regions/Jurisdictions were elected over the next two years. Dr. Wilson was elected as the organizations first President and Whetstone was hired as part-time Executive Director. 7

From the beginning, the group sought to be related to the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) as an affiliate organization and was granted that status in a covenant relationship in November of 1978. It is the only main-line renewal group that has an official “connected” relationship to its denominational structure.

The remainder of this paper is a history of the UMRSF, herein after called ARM (Aldersgate Renewal Ministries), organized by the periods of those who have served as President of the ARM Board of Directors.

PIONEERS

Dr. William P. (Bill) Wilson, MD, was the only layman among the original five founders. He had served as a coordinator for over 100 Lay Witness Missions. In the mid seventies, he was a professor of psychiatry at Duke Medical School. Later, he would enter a full time ministry of counseling, teaching and healing as the head of the Institute of Christian Growth.

Dr. Wilson was elected as the first President of the ARM Board and served from 1978 until 1983. Under his leadership, the renewal organization was formed, secured it’s affiliation with the GBOD, held its first national conference, opened its first office, and hired its first executive director.

In 1979, the first Aldersgate Conference, was held in Louisville, Kentucky. The intent was to sponsor an annual, national conference on the Holy Spirit. The name, Aldersgate, was used to tie the event to John Wesley’s “heart warming” and life changing experience with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ.